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LAWRENCE – Speaking at a press conference in The City of Lawrence on Friday afternoon Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said even though the state has started to re-open after the coronavirus pandemic, Memorial Day is not the time to ignore social distancing rules and go without a face mask.
Gov. Baker strongly said residents need to respect the virus this long holiday weekend.
“My advice to everybody over the weekend, it would be the same advice I would give to my friends, I would give to my kids, I would give to my neighbors — which is respect the virus and understand that distancing and face coverings if you can not stay distant are your two greatest allies in preventing the spread,” said Gov, Baker at that press conference.
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“A lot of people spend a bunch of time on Memorial Day weekend with family. Family usually means things like moms and dads. And in some cases, grandmas and grandpas. Wear a face covering, not only for yourself, but for the people you come into contact with,” said the Massachusetts Governor. “This is in many ways one of our greatest weapons in the fight against COVID. And wash your hands. A lot. Sanitize. Keep the distance. Be careful.”
“People have worked really hard and given up a tremendous amount over the course of the last 8 or 10 weeks to bend the trend on this and we succeeded. And it’s because of the work that everybody did that we’re now here in a position where we can start talking about a gradual, careful, data-driven, phased reopening. Don’t let a few nice days step on that,” urged the Governor.
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Memorial Day is Monday, May 25.
Many communities have cancelled ceremonies, parades, and events, due to COVID-19.
“There are a lot of people who died for your right to live in a free democracy here in the United States, here in Massachusetts. Those people stood up, put on a uniform — most of them volunteered — and marched directly into the field and the theater of combat. And Memorial Day is when we celebrate the ones who didn’t make it home and their families,” said Gov. Baker at that press conference.
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“If you don’t want to wear a mask because you don’t like wearing a mask, if you don’t want to social distance because you don’t want to social distance, please think about those families. Those moms and dads, those brothers and sisters, those sons and daughters of those who lost their lives fighting for your freedom to put on that mask — just do it for them. Socially distance for them. Wash for your hands for them. Because if they were here, they would be doing the same thing,” said the Massachusetts Governor.
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“I’m sure that over the course of the weekend, there will be some places where people don’t behave and live up to the terms of the advisories and some of this other stuff,’ said Gov. Baker.
“But I believe that the vast majority of people will. Because for the past two-and-a-half months, the vast majority of the people of Massachusetts have day after day done things they’ve never done before to put up with and fight against this virus and to join together to defeat it,” concluded the Governor.
Massachusetts has been one of the hardest hit states for the virus, ranking fourth nationally behind New York, New Jersey, and Illnois.
As of today, Massachusetts had more than 90,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 6,000 deaths.
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Photo courtesy of the Governor office
MetroWest Medical Center